No More Magazines On Google News: What It Means For Users?

Google News has announced that it will discontinue hosting purchased magazine content from December 18, the company announced on a support page.

What Happened: Google News, on Wednesday, confirmed that it would stop hosting magazine content that users had previously bought. This service has been offered by the tech giant since 2012. The selling of new magazine content was halted back in 2020, and this latest move signifies the end of hosting for all previously purchased content.

Customers who have bought content will have the option to download a PDF version of their magazine prior to the shutdown date. For magazines that feature interactive elements that cannot be downloaded, Google has promised to provide refunds.

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Google has begun sending out emails to users who have purchased magazine content, detailing their options to download their magazines or request refunds where applicable. The deadline for these actions coincides with the hosting service’s shutdown date.

Google initially began selling magazines via “Google Play Magazines” back in 2012. This was later merged with Google Currents to form Google Play Newsstand. In 2018, the Google News app replaced Play Newsstand, shifting its focus towards online content while catering to magazine subscriptions.

Why It Matters: This decision reflects Google’s ongoing shift from traditional publishing to a more digital content-focused approach. It also highlights the challenges the print industry faces in the digital age, where online, interactive content is growing increasingly popular. Customers now have to decide whether to download their previously purchased content or opt for refunds.

Image – Shutterstock

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